Chandler Chicco cofounder launches network of healthcare comms firms

NEW YORK: Chandler Chicco cofounder Bob Chandler has returned from his two-year retirement to launch a network of healthcare communications firms called Watershed Bridges, and MaxAscent, one of the agencies within the network.

MaxAscent, a patient-focused agency, provides clients with PR, social, digital, advertising, public affairs, corporate positioning, and crisis management services. The firm is based in New York and has a staff of about 20 freelancers.

Chandler said he had the idea to create the agency and network since his retirement in 2014. He’s been actively working on them for about eight months.

"MaxAscent is about helping to accelerate patient understanding of what it is they need to do and how to get more out of their providers," Chandler said. "There’s a huge gulf still and there are a lot of things we're looking at in terms of how patients think that can address it."

Chandler is also spearheading Watershed Bridges, which encompasses a network of agencies that will work with each other on clients, providing a range of communications, marketing, advertising, patient engagement and behavior, medical education, and public affairs services.

Leaders from boutique agencies wethepeople, PatientWisdom, Brandforming, Publick House, Rothenberg Communications, HealthTalker, Sawtooth, Parry Branding Group, Midnight Media Group, and BK Digital make up the network. MaxAscent is also part of the network.

Chandler has worked with all of the agencies in the network sometime over his career.

"I always felt there was more to contribute," Chandler said. "There’s so much going on in healthcare today. Our sweet spot is the patient mindset and looking at what drives and motivates the changing behavior of the patient. We’ve all had great success doing that."

Chandler "small r" retired from his role as cofounder and principal of Chandler Chicco Companies and president of InVentiv Health Communications in 2014. He remained president emeritus after his retirement at Chandler Chicco, which he founded in 1995 with Gianfranco Chicco. Chandler Chicco Companies joined inVentiv Health Communications in 2007 and Chandler took on the roles of SVP of marketing and communications in 2009 and president of inVentiv Health Communications in 2012.